Sellafield sent radioactive waste to landfill, say regulators

The company managing the UK's largest nuclear site is facing nine criminal charges for disposing of radioactive waste at a local landfill site

The Environment Agency and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) have confirmed that they are prosecuting Sellafield Limited over an incident in April 2010 that allegedly resulted in four bags of low-level radioactive waste being sent to the Lillyhall landfill site in Workington, Cumbria.

Following a joint investigation the regulators are prosecuting the firm for breaches of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010, the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009.

According to the charges, Sellafield Limited did not have a management system or organisational structure and resources in place adequate to meet the requirements of its environmental permit or to ensure compliance with the Radioactive Substances Act.

The company also failed to check the effectiveness of its systems, equipment and procedures for the disposal of radioactive waste, says the agency and ONR.

The case will be heard on 12 December at Workington magistrates’ court.